Taylor Funeral Home

Two weeks ago, with the help of the Glascock County commissioners, Jerry Taylor resumed services at a temporary location adjacent to the Sheriff’s Office. From there he intends to provide funeral visitations until his new facility can be constructed over the footprint of his former operation.“When the funeral home burned down it was devastating to the community and we are glad that we can help Jerry and the same time he is helping us,” Commissioner Jeffery Chalker said. “We’re glad we can help in any way we can.”In an effort to support the only funeral home in Glascock County and keep grieving families from having to travel 30 minutes or more to celebrate the lives of their dearly departed, the county entered into an agreement with the funeral director earlier this year that they see as mutually beneficial.They have agreed on a one year rent free lease of the building, at the end of which the county will retain ownership of a renovated space.“It’s a pretty healthy investment he is going to be making there,” Commission Chair Lori Boyen said.Still, she laments the loss of the history that was in the old funeral home that sat across the street from the county offices in the Peebles House.The structure that burned had been a funeral home since the 1940s. Originally owned by the Shepeard family, Taylor purchased it in 2012 when former owner, James Markins died. Taylor had operated the business at that location until the fire.“I got the call at about 4:30 in the morning from Sheriff Jeremy Kelley,” Taylor said. “He notified me the funeral was on fire. After the investigation they determined it was a gas leak.”While the building itself was lost, Taylor said that he had been planning renovations and had moved his files to an outbuilding in the weeks before the fire.Even as the smoke cleared, Taylor said he was determined to maintain a physical presence and offer services to the people of rural Glascock County.“We looked around and found this location,” he said. “By state law a funeral home has to have an embalming roo... (Bluffton Today)